A very down to earth, shy, hardworking kid who will do what it takes to get there. Awkward kicking action that will find its mark but I reckon it lacks penetration. A good reader of the play. Glad we got him.

Garthwaite is a versatile defender from the Murray Bushrangers, who was a GWS Academy member in 2016 and also represented the Allies in the under-18 national championships.

He played 12 games for the Bushrangers in the 2016 season, finishing equal second in their best and fairest, playing as key defender.

Garthwaite prides himself on his ability to negate the opposition’s best forwards, while also displaying the ability to drop off and intercept.

This was best illustrated in the TAC Cup grand final against Sandringham, where he finished with 24 possessions, nine marks (two contested and three from the opposition), six rebound-50s and six tackles.

Ryan Garthwaite: Another key-position GWS Academy prospect that starred for Murray in last week’s preliminary final. Garthwaite was an impenetrable wall against the Chargers, named best on ground by the Bushrangers after taking five marks — of which four were contested — and producing several long kicks out of defence that cleared danger. The full-back is the best one-on-one key defender in the TAC Cup, either winning or neutralising 93 per cent of his one-on-one contests this season, according to Champion Data.

Sticky Fingers

This kid looks like a very good contested mark for a defender from the highlights I have seen, although I acknowledge there is a big step between TAC and AFL.

I assume that is a pretty handy attribute to have as a defender. Not that many coaches would want you going for your marks, but he obviously reads the ball in flight really well and can get his mitts to it.